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Monday, December 2, 2024

8 Best Credit Cards to Use in Europe (Dec. 2024)

Best Credit Cards To Use In Europe
Brittney Mayer

Writer: Brittney Mayer

Brittney Mayer

Brittney Mayer, Credit Analyst

Brittney is a Credit Strategist and Finance Expert who has spent years honing her knowledge of the credit industry both personally and professionally. Brittney applies her more than a decade of research experience to crafting in-depth consumer guides designed to help CardRates readers make better, more informed financial decisions.

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Lillian Guevara-Castro

Editor: Lillian Guevara-Castro

Lillian Guevara-Castro

Lillian Guevara-Castro, Senior Editor

Lillian Guevara-Castro brings more than 30 years of editing and journalism experience to the CardRates team. She has worked at The Atlanta Journal and Constitution, Gwinnett Daily News, Gainesville Sun, and The New York Times, where she covered demographics, consumer issues, and the business and financial sectors. Lillian has a degree in journalism and communications from Georgia State University and brings her fact-checking expertise to ensure Digital Brands content is accurate and engaging.

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Ashley Fricker

Reviewer: Ashley Fricker

Ashley Fricker

Ashley Fricker, Senior Editor

Ashley Fricker has more than a decade of experience as a finance contributor and editor, and has specialized in the credit card industry since 2015. Her credit card commentary is featured on national media outlets that include CNBC, MarketWatch, Investopedia, and Reader's Digest, among many others. She has worked closely with the world’s largest banks and financial institutions, up-and-coming fintech companies, and press and news outlets to curate comprehensive content and media. Ashley holds a bachelor's degree in multimedia journalism from Florida Atlantic University.

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Advertiser Disclosure

Steeped in history, culture, and cuisine, Europe is a top destination for millions of vacationers every year, with plenty of Americans taking the long trip over the pond to explore what the continent has to offer.

But when even a domestic vacation can easily cost hundreds of dollars, a transcontinental adventure is likely to have a four-digit price tag. Luckily, there may be some things you can do to keep your trip on budget.

For example, you can save on fees and earn rewards on nearly every aspect of your European vacation simply by being smart about which credit cards you use.

No Foreign Transaction Fees | Chip & PIN | Travel | Dining | Entertainment | Business

Best “No Foreign Transaction Fee” Cards to Use in Europe

One of the most important fees to watch out for while traveling abroad are foreign transaction fees. Many credit cards charge foreign transaction fees on purchases made in a foreign currency to offset the cost of exchanging the currency from US dollars to the purchase currency.

That being said, there are a good number of credit cards that charge no foreign transaction fees, including many of the most popular travel rewards cards, and you can earn rewards regardless of the currency in which you make purchases.

BEST OVERALL RATING

★★★★★
4.8

OVERALL RATING

4.8/5.0
  • Enjoy a one-time bonus of 75,000 miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within 3 months from account opening, equal to $750 in travel
  • Earn unlimited 2X miles on every purchase, every day
  • Earn 5X miles on hotels, vacation rentals and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, where you'll get Capital One's best prices on thousands of trip options
  • Miles won't expire for the life of the account and there's no limit to how many you can earn
  • Receive up to a $120 credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck®
  • Use your miles to get reimbursed for any travel purchase—or redeem by booking a trip through Capital One Travel
Intro (Purchases)
Intro (Transfers)
Regular APR
Annual Fee
Credit Needed
N/A
N/A
19.99% - 29.74% (Variable)
$95
Excellent, Good

The miles earned with your Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card can be redeemed for statement credit to cover a range of travel-related purchases made with your card, a category that includes most transportation from airlines to railways, hotel stays, travel agencies, and even timeshares. Miles can also be transferred to a qualifying frequent flyer program.

BEST OVERALL RATING

★★★★★
4.9

OVERALL RATING

4.9/5.0
  • Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
  • Enjoy benefits such as 5x on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3x on dining, select streaming services and online groceries, 2x on all other travel purchases, 1x on all other purchases, $50 Annual Chase Travel Hotel Credit, plus more.
  • Get 25% more value when you redeem for airfare, hotels, car rentals and cruises through Chase Travel℠. For example, 60,000 points are worth $750 toward travel.
  • Count on Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance, Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver, Lost Luggage Insurance and more.
  • Get complimentary access to DashPass which unlocks $0 delivery fees and lower service fees for a minimum of one year when you activate by December 31, 2027.
  • Member FDIC
Intro (Purchases)
Intro (Transfers)
Regular APR
Annual Fee
Credit Needed
N/A
N/A
20.99% - 27.99% Variable
$95
Good/Excellent

The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card earns the popular Ultimate Rewards® points, which are lauded for their redemption flexibility and high per-point potential value. Earn 2X points per dollar on travel and dining, one point on everything else, and pay no foreign transaction fees for any of it.

BEST OVERALL RATING

★★★★★
4.9

OVERALL RATING

4.9/5.0
  • Earn a one-time $200 cash bonus after you spend $500 on purchases within 3 months from account opening
  • Earn unlimited 1.5% cash back on every purchase, every day
  • $0 annual fee and no foreign transaction fees
  • Earn unlimited 5% cash back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, where you'll get Capital One's best prices on thousands of trip options. Terms apply
  • No rotating categories or sign-ups needed to earn cash rewards; plus, cash back won't expire for the life of the account and there's no limit to how much you can earn
  • 0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for 15 months; 19.74% - 29.74% variable APR after that; balance transfer fee applies
Intro (Purchases)
Intro (Transfers)
Regular APR
Annual Fee
Credit Needed
0% for 15 months
0% for 15 months
19.74% - 29.74% (Variable)
$0
Excellent, Good

The Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card is a straightforward unlimited cash back card that offers 1.5% cash back on every purchase, regardless of its category. With no foreign transaction fees, the Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card can be good for your vacation expenses that don’t fall into bonus categories.

Best “Chip & PIN” Card to Use in Europe

Although EMV-chip credit cards have become the standard in most of the world, the chip cards in the UK and US vary in one key way: how they’re authenticated. In the US, we use a signature to authorize purchases (though even that’s being phased out).

However, in Europe, most credit card transactions are authenticated via a four-digit PIN, similar to US debit cards. While your US EMV card can be used for most European merchants, certain unattended kiosks, such as ticket machines and parking garages, will typically require a card with chip-and-PIN capability.

Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card Review

at Bank Of America'ssecure website

EXPERT'S RATING

★★★★★
4.9

OVERALL RATING

4.9/5.0
  • Earn unlimited 1.5 points per $1 spent on all purchases, with no annual fee and no foreign transaction fees and your points don't expire as long as your account remains open.
  • 25,000 online bonus points after you make at least $1,000 in purchases in the first 90 days of account opening - that can be a $250 statement credit toward travel purchases.
  • Use your card to book your trip how and where you want - you're not limited to specific websites with blackout dates or restrictions.
  • Redeem points for a statement credit to pay for travel or dining purchases, such as flights, hotel stays, car and vacation rentals, baggage fees, and also at restaurants including takeout.
  • If you're a Bank of America Preferred Rewards® member, you can earn 25%-75% more points on every purchase. That means instead of earning an unlimited 1.5 points for every $1, you could earn 1.87-2.62 points for every $1 you spend on purchases.
  • Contactless Cards - The security of a chip card, with the convenience of a tap.
  • This online only offer may not be available if you leave this page or if you visit a Bank of America financial center. You can take advantage of this offer when you apply now.
Intro (Purchases)
Intro (Transfers)
Regular APR
Annual Fee
Credit Needed
See Terms
See Terms (Balance Transfer Fee 3% for 60 days from account opening, then 4%)
See Terms
$0
Excellent/Good

Additional Disclosure: Bank of America is a CardRates advertiser.

The chip-and-PIN enabled Bank of America® Travel Rewards Credit Card earns an unlimited 1.5X points per dollar spent on all purchases, with no foreign transaction fees. Points can be redeemed for a huge range of travel-related purchases, including the basics, such as flights and hotels, as well as things like select tourist attractions.

Best “Travel Rewards” Cards to Use in Europe

Although there are certainly some deals to be had if you’re flexible about when you take your trip, it’s safe to say that travel expenses will likely be the bulk of the cost of your European escape.

Happily, with a good travel rewards credit card, you can start saving up points or miles for your vacation well before you book your trip, potentially eliminating the cost of transportation and/or accommodations with smart redemptions. Plus, earn more points for your taxi rides and rail tickets as you explore your destination.

BEST OVERALL RATING

★★★★★
4.7

OVERALL RATING

4.7/5.0
  • Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
  • $300 Annual Travel Credit as reimbursement for travel purchases charged to your card each account anniversary year.
  • Earn 5x total points on flights and 10x total points on hotels and car rentals when you purchase travel through Chase Travel℠ immediately after the first $300 is spent on travel purchases annually. Earn 3x points on other travel and dining & 1 point per $1 spent on all other purchases
  • Get 50% more value when you redeem your points for travel through Chase Travel℠. For example, 60,000 points are worth $900 toward travel.
  • Get complimentary access to DashPass which unlocks $0 delivery fees and lower service fees for a minimum of one year when you activate by December 31, 2027.
  • 1:1 point transfer to leading airline and hotel loyalty programs
Intro (Purchases)
Intro (Transfers)
Regular APR
Annual Fee
Credit Needed
N/A
N/A
21.99% - 28.99% Variable
$550
Good/Excellent

The Chase Sapphire Reserve® is by and large one of the most popular travel cards on the market. Not only does it earn 3X Chase Ultimate Rewards® points on travel purchases, it also offers airport lounge access, an annual travel credit, trip cancellation/delay insurance, and a host of other potentially valuable travel perks.

BEST OVERALL RATING

★★★★★
4.9

OVERALL RATING

4.9/5.0
  • Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
  • Enjoy benefits such as 5x on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3x on dining, select streaming services and online groceries, 2x on all other travel purchases, 1x on all other purchases, $50 Annual Chase Travel Hotel Credit, plus more.
  • Get 25% more value when you redeem for airfare, hotels, car rentals and cruises through Chase Travel℠. For example, 60,000 points are worth $750 toward travel.
  • Count on Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance, Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver, Lost Luggage Insurance and more.
  • Get complimentary access to DashPass which unlocks $0 delivery fees and lower service fees for a minimum of one year when you activate by December 31, 2027.
  • Member FDIC
Intro (Purchases)
Intro (Transfers)
Regular APR
Annual Fee
Credit Needed
N/A
N/A
20.99% - 27.99% Variable
$95
Good/Excellent

While the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card has a much lower annual fee than its big sibling, it also earns fewer points, only offering 2X Ultimate Rewards® points per dollar on travel. It also doesn’t come with the travel credit or lounge access, though it does share the trip cancellation and lost baggage insurance.

BEST OVERALL RATING

★★★★★
4.8

OVERALL RATING

4.8/5.0
  • Enjoy a one-time bonus of 75,000 miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within 3 months from account opening, equal to $750 in travel
  • Earn unlimited 2X miles on every purchase, every day
  • Earn 5X miles on hotels, vacation rentals and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, where you'll get Capital One's best prices on thousands of trip options
  • Miles won't expire for the life of the account and there's no limit to how many you can earn
  • Receive up to a $120 credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck®
  • Use your miles to get reimbursed for any travel purchase—or redeem by booking a trip through Capital One Travel
Intro (Purchases)
Intro (Transfers)
Regular APR
Annual Fee
Credit Needed
N/A
N/A
19.99% - 29.74% (Variable)
$95
Excellent, Good

The Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card offers unlimited 2X miles per dollar spent on travel-related purchases, and miles won’t expire for the life of the account. There’s no limit to how many you can earn.

Best “Dining Rewards” Cards to Use in Europe

No matter where we are, food is usually a significant part of the budget. But that number is likely to skyrocket when you head off on a European vacation, especially when most of us spend our vacations in hotel rooms sans kitchens.

Of course, given that many of Europe’s most popular tourist destinations also happen to be hailed for their culinary delights, few of us would likely cook even with a kitchen. Happily, you can explore the tastes of Europe and earn rewards with these dining rewards credit cards.

BEST OVERALL RATING

★★★★★
4.7

OVERALL RATING

4.7/5.0
  • Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
  • $300 Annual Travel Credit as reimbursement for travel purchases charged to your card each account anniversary year.
  • Earn 5x total points on flights and 10x total points on hotels and car rentals when you purchase travel through Chase Travel℠ immediately after the first $300 is spent on travel purchases annually. Earn 3x points on other travel and dining & 1 point per $1 spent on all other purchases
  • Get 50% more value when you redeem your points for travel through Chase Travel℠. For example, 60,000 points are worth $900 toward travel.
  • Get complimentary access to DashPass which unlocks $0 delivery fees and lower service fees for a minimum of one year when you activate by December 31, 2027.
  • 1:1 point transfer to leading airline and hotel loyalty programs
Intro (Purchases)
Intro (Transfers)
Regular APR
Annual Fee
Credit Needed
N/A
N/A
21.99% - 28.99% Variable
$550
Good/Excellent

The Chase Sapphire Reserve® offers 3X Ultimate Rewards® points for qualifying dining purchases, a broad category that includes sit-down, fast food, and fine dining establishments. And since the card charges no foreign transaction fees, you can swipe without worry regardless of the currency.

BEST OVERALL RATING

★★★★★
4.9

OVERALL RATING

4.9/5.0
  • Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
  • Enjoy benefits such as 5x on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3x on dining, select streaming services and online groceries, 2x on all other travel purchases, 1x on all other purchases, $50 Annual Chase Travel Hotel Credit, plus more.
  • Get 25% more value when you redeem for airfare, hotels, car rentals and cruises through Chase Travel℠. For example, 60,000 points are worth $750 toward travel.
  • Count on Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance, Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver, Lost Luggage Insurance and more.
  • Get complimentary access to DashPass which unlocks $0 delivery fees and lower service fees for a minimum of one year when you activate by December 31, 2027.
  • Member FDIC
Intro (Purchases)
Intro (Transfers)
Regular APR
Annual Fee
Credit Needed
N/A
N/A
20.99% - 27.99% Variable
$95
Good/Excellent

The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card offers many of the same perks as its big sibling, including no foreign transaction fees, but at a fraction of the cost with only a $95 annual fee. That lower fee may mean fewer rewards, however, as you’ll only earn 2X Ultimate Rewards® points per dollar on dining.

10. Uber Visa Card

The Uber Visa Card not only offers 4% cash back on dining purchases, including restaurants and bars, but it also has a lot going for it in terms of utility abroad thanks to its Visa network and no foreign transaction fees.

Uber Visa Card

  • Earn 4% cash back on dining purchases, including restaurants, takeout, bars, and UberEATS
  • Earn 3% cash back on hotel & airfare, 2% for online purchases
  • Earn 1% cash back on all other purchases

If you’re not carrying a better travel card, the Uber Visa Card can also be a good choice for certain travel purchases, offering 3% cash back on hotels and airfare, including vacation home rentals.

Best “Entertainment Rewards” Cards to Use in Europe

Although there’s certainly plenty to see and do on a European trip without paying for entertainment, chances are you’ll want to hit at least one museum, theatrical production, or sporting event while you’re on vacation.

The cards in this category all offer bonus rewards for entertainment purchases, which can help you find a little more room in the budget for adding some extra culture — or just having a little more fun.

BEST OVERALL RATING

★★★★★
4.8

OVERALL RATING

4.8/5.0
  • For a limited time, earn a $250 cash bonus once you spend $500 on purchases within the first 3 months from account opening
  • Earn unlimited 3% cash back at grocery stores (excluding superstores like Walmart® and Target®), on dining, entertainment and popular streaming services, plus 1% on all other purchases
  • Earn 8% cash back on Capital One Entertainment purchases
  • Earn unlimited 5% cash back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, where you'll get Capital One's best prices on thousands of trip options. Terms apply
  • No rotating categories or sign-ups needed to earn cash rewards; plus cash back won't expire for the life of the account and there's no limit to how much you can earn
  • 0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for 15 months; 19.74% - 29.74% variable APR after that; balance transfer fee applies
Intro (Purchases)
Intro (Transfers)
Regular APR
Annual Fee
Credit Needed
0% for 15 months
0% for 15 months
19.74% - 29.74% (Variable)
$0
Excellent, Good

This card is a great option for entertainment purchases, offering 3% cash back on everything from concerts and sporting events to museums and zoos. If purchased through Capital One Entertainment, those purchases earn 8% cash back. Plus, cardholders can also earn 3% cash back on dining and at grocery stores.

Citi Strata Premier℠ Card Review

at the issuer'ssecure website

BEST OVERALL RATING

★★★★★
4.7

OVERALL RATING

4.7/5.0
  • For a limited time, earn 75,000 bonus ThankYou® Points after spending $4,000 in the first 3 months of account opening, redeemable for $750 in gift cards or travel rewards at thankyou.com.
  • Earn 10 points per $1 spent on Hotels, Car Rentals, and Attractions booked on CitiTravel.com.
  • Earn 3 points per $1 on Air Travel and Other Hotel Purchases, at Restaurants, Supermarkets, Gas and EV Charging Stations.
  • Earn 1 Point per $1 spent on all other purchases.
  • $100 Annual Hotel Benefit: Once per calendar year, enjoy $100 off a single hotel stay of $500 or more (excluding taxes and fees) when booked through CitiTravel.com. Benefit applied instantly at time of booking.
  • No expiration and no limit to the amount of points you can earn with this card
  • No Foreign Transaction Fees on purchases
Intro (Purchases)
Intro (Transfers)
Regular APR
Annual Fee
Credit Needed
N/A
N/A
20.49% - 28.49% (Variable)
$95
Good/Excellent

Additional Disclosure: Citi is a CardRates advertiser.

If you’re looking to earn points for travel that are transferable to your favorite airline loyalty program, the Citi Strata Premier℠ Card might be your perfect pick. It offers solid rewards points per dollar in multiple spending categories so users with broad purchase needs will reap the most benefit.

On top of bonus rewards in multiple categories, this card also offers a generous signup bonus that can be redeemed for some serious travel rewards. With no foreign transaction fees and an annual hotel savings benefit, this is a fantastic card option for those traveling overseas.

13. Marvel Mastercard®

The Marvel Mastercard® also pairs dining and entertainment, offering 3% cash back for both categories. While you’ll be stuck paying a 3% foreign transaction fee, if you can pre-purchase your tickets in US currency, you can score a decent return.

 Marvel Mastercard

  • Earn 3% cash back on dining, select entertainment, and eligible Marvel merchandise purchases
  • Earn unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases
  • Pay no annual fee

Unlike the Citi cards above, the Marvel card’s entertainment category excludes museums, art galleries, and sporting events from its bonus rewards. However, it does include movie theaters, theatrical and concert promoters, and amusement parks (including zoos and aquariums).

Best “Business” Cards to Use in Europe

Despite the focus on vacationers, of course, not everyone on their way to Europe is taking the trip for the sightseeing; business travelers spend billions of euros a year in European markets as they go about their, well, business.

On the plus side, while the business credit card market isn’t quite as flooded as the consumer market, there are still a number of great options for not only saving on your purchases in Europe, but on all of your qualifying business expenses.

BUSINESS CARD RATING

★★★★★
4.6

OVERALL RATING

4.7/5.0
  • Earn 90k bonus points after you spend $8,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $900 cash back or $1,125 toward travel when redeemed through Chase Travel℠
  • Earn 3 points per $1 on the first $150,000 spent on travel and select business categories each account anniversary year. Earn 1 point per $1 on all other purchases
  • Round-the-clock monitoring for unusual credit card purchases
  • With Zero Liability you won't be held responsible for unauthorized charges made with your card or account information.
  • Redeem points for cash back, gift cards, travel and more - your points don't expire as long as your account is open
  • Points are worth 25% more when you redeem for travel through Chase Travel℠
Intro (Purchases)
Intro (Transfers)
Regular APR
Annual Fee
Credit Needed
N/A
N/A
20.74% - 26.74% Variable
$95
Good/Excellent

The Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card has a ton of features that make it a great pick for your European purchases, including no foreign transaction fees, 3X rewards points on the first $150,000 in bonus category purchases that includes travel, and a 25% redemption bonus for travel redeemed through the Chase portal.

15. Capital One Spark Cash for Business

This card is currently not available.

Business Rating

★★★★★
N/A

OVERALL RATING

N/A
Intro (Purchases)
Intro (Transfers)
Regular APR
Annual Fee
Credit Needed
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A

Additional Disclosure: Information for this card not reviewed by or provided by Capital One.

With the Capital One Spark Cash for Business, you’ll earn unlimited 2% cash back on every purchase, regardless of currency, with no foreign transaction fees. Plus, you can obtain rewards-earning employee cards at no additional cost, making it easy to track expenses while your employees conduct business abroad.

BUSINESS CARD RATING

★★★★★
4.6

OVERALL RATING

4.6/5.0
  • Earn $350 when you spend $3,000 on purchases in the first three months and an additional $400 when you spend $6,000 on purchases in the first six months after account opening
  • Earn 5% cash back on the first $25,000 spent in combined purchases at office supply stores and on internet, cable and phone services each account anniversary year
  • Earn 2% cash back on the first $25,000 spent in combined purchases at gas stations and restaurants each account anniversary year. Earn 1% cash back on all other purchases
  • With Zero Liability you won't be held responsible for unauthorized charges made with your card or account information.
  • No Annual Fee
  • Redeem rewards for cash back, gift cards, travel and more through Chase Ultimate Rewards®.
Intro (Purchases)
Intro (Transfers)
Regular APR
Annual Fee
Credit Needed
0% Intro APR on Purchases 12 months
N/A
17.99% - 25.99% Variable
$0
Good/Excellent

The Ink Business Cash® Credit Card is good for saving on business essentials no matter where you are thanks to no foreign transactions fees and rewards that include 5% cash back on up to $25,000 in office supply purchases and internet, cable, and phone services each year. Plus, earn 2% cash back on the first $25,000 in annual dining and gas purchases.

Shop Like a Local with the Right Card

Whether you’re headed to Europe for the English castles, the French cheese, or just the chance to see a little history, a European vacation can definitely be well worth its usually-high price tag.

But you can also get even more value out of your trip with a little smart spending. Ensuring your go-to card doesn’t charge foreign transaction fees, for instance, can easily save you 2% to 4% on every European transaction.

And a good chip-and-PIN card can help you fit in and shop like a local by avoiding awkward moments hunting for a pen for your US chip-and-signature card (or, worse, missing a train because your card won’t work at the ticketing kiosk).

No matter which cards you decide to take with you on your trip, however, be sure you contact your credit card issuers before you leave to let them know you’ll be making purchases in another country. Without advanced notification, your card issuer may consider foreign purchases to be a sign of fraud and put a hold on your card — which can put a crimp in your vacation agenda.

Advertiser Disclosure

CardRates.com is a free online resource that offers valuable content and comparison services to users. To keep this resource 100% free, we receive compensation for referrals for many of the offers listed on the site. Along with key review factors, this compensation may impact how and where products appear across CardRates.com (including, for example, the order in which they appear). CardRates.com does not include the entire universe of available offers. Editorial opinions expressed on the site are strictly our own and are not provided, endorsed, or approved by advertisers.